The Decameron trailer previews the upcoming Netflix dark comedy, which unfolds amidst a pandemic and is very loosely inspired by the 14-century story collection The Decameron.
Described as a “wine-soaked sex romp set in the Italian countryside,” per the official synopsis, the show looks at the themes of class struggle amidst the pandemic. In particular, the story takes place in the year 1348, as the Black Death hits the city of Florence. As a result, a handful of nobles retreat with their servants to a fancy villa to wait until the plague is over. But a scramble to survive soon follows, with social rules gradually falling by the wayside.
But perhaps a bigger issue for the royals than their petty and escalating encounters, which the trailer reveals, is that the villa is not safe from those looking for food and water. Soon, they face a siege. But still, in another moment, one of the characters insists they can survive for five years. “Six, with limited cannibalism,” he adds.
The Decameron cast includes Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Amar Chadha-Patel, Leila Farzad, Lou Gala, Karan Gill, Douggie McMeekin, Jessica Plummer, and Tanya Reynolds.
The eight-episode series is created by Kathleen Jordan, who previously worked on the short-living series Teenage Bounty Hunter with Jenji Kohan, who is involved through Tilted Productions. Kohan serves as an executive producer alongside Jordan, director Michael Uppendahl, and Tilted’s Blake McCormick and Tara Herrmann.
